“Blessed Thomas.” At the instance of his mother Theodora,
Countess of Teano, S. Thomas, who had received the Dominican habit some time
between 1240 and August 1243, was whilst on his way to Rome from Naples
captured near Aquapendente by his two brothers, Landolfo and Rinaldo,
officers in the army of the Emperor Frederick. They confined him for nearly
two years in the fortress of San Giovanni at Rocca Secca. He revealed this
vision of Holy Angels who endows him with the white girdle of chastity to
his faithful friend, Reginald of Piperno. One of the particular devotions
of the Dominican Order consists in wearing, as a devout memorial of this
event, a white girdle for which a special form of blessing is presribed:
“Benedictio Cinguli S. Thomae Aquinatis Ad Seruandam Castitatem.”